Ari's Menu

Little changes making a big difference.


Turkey Sloppy Joes

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Turkey Sloppy Joes

The first time I ever heard of sloppy joes was when I was watching that movie with the Olsen twins. I think it’s called It Takes Two? With Kirstie Alley and they go to summer camp and find out that they were twins separated at birth, then they switch places? There’s a scene in the cafeteria where they have sloppy joes and then they have a food fight. Food fights always look fun in the movies, but the idea of being literally covered in food in real life is surprisingly unappealing to me. As much as I love food, I do not love it on my body instead of in it.

Turkey Sloppy Joes

Sloppy joes were just never something my mom made, so when I did finally have one, it seemed like a special treat and I fell in love. I tried to make them once before with no ketchup (I used tomato sauce) and no sugar. It tasted like bad meat sauce. It was a total failure, and I’m pretty sure I threw a temper tantrum during the time Steve ate his entire serving and went back for seconds. Anyway, I knew I needed to try again.

Turkey Sloppy Joes

This time, I stuck to the simple and traditional, and ended up with a total treat that made me feel like a little kid again. It was totally messy, and got all over my face and clothes in the best way possible. It had that sweetness you imagine with a sloppy joe without any refined sugar, and the sriracha adds a little kick that I love. But then again, I put sriracha on just about everything.

Turkey Sloppy Joes

This is one of those perfect healthy meal for anyone who has kids (or lives with people that act like kids), or just likes simple, delicious foods. It’s healthy, nutritious, super filling and so easy to make that you will be making it over and over again!

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Turkey Sloppy Joes

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Yield: 4 servings

Turkey Sloppy Joes

Ingredients

  • 1 tsp olive oil
  • 1 sweet onion, finely chopped
  • 1 red bell pepper, finely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 lb lean ground turkey (I used 93%)
  • 3/4 cup reduced sugar ketchup
  • 2-3 tsp molasses
  • pinch each salt and pepper
  • dash worcestershire sauce
  • dash sriracha or other hot sauce, optional
  • whole grain buns for serving (whole wheat, brown rice, etc.), optional

Instructions

  1. In a large pan over medium heat, saute onion, bell pepper and garlic in olive oil until tender and fragrant, about 7-10 minutes. Add ground turkey and brown until cooked throughout.
  2. Stir in ketchup, molasses, salt, pepper, worcestershire and sriracha. Bring to a light boil. Reduce heat and simmer until thickened, about 30 minutes.
  3. Serve immediately on buns, or over a salad, or any way you like.
https://arismenu.com/turkey-sloppy-joes/

Turkey Pastrami Melt

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Turkey Pastrami Melt

Helllloooo sandwich. Do you guys ever go to Schlotsky’s? When I was in high school, I would always drive over to my best friend’s house and pick up Schlotsky’s sandwiches for us. My staple? White bread, pastrami, swiss and thousand island. Kinda like a rueben, but with only the good parts.

Turkey Pastrami Melt

I have missed that sandwich. These days, I’m much more of a hummus, veggies and goat cheese sandwich girl, but every once in a while I crave that salty pastrami, melty cheese, and sweet and creamy thousand island. It’s like sandwich heaven.

Turkey Pastrami Melt

It’s one of those things that I just can’t seem to justify at a restaurant when I know I can make it 10x healthier myself. Not to mention, it takes about 15 minutes, including the time it took to make the dressing.

Turkey Pastrami Melt

I definitely don’t have the patience for anything time consuming around lunch time. I just want the quickest and most delicious way to get a sandwich to my face, and this baby tastes like the real deal–just like that big, juicy sandwich I remember, but with a list of healthy, protein-packed ingredients that will keep you full until dinner time!

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Turkey Pastrami Melt

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

Yield: 1 sandwich

Serving Size: 1 sandwich

Turkey Pastrami Melt

Ingredients

  • 2 slices whole grain bread (whole wheat, Ezekiel, brown rice, etc.)
  • 2 tsp dijon mustard
  • 1 tbsp fat free thousand island
  • 3 oz sliced turkey pastrami (I used Boar's Head found at Fry's/Kroger)
  • 1 slice reduced fat swiss cheese
  • 1/2 roma tomato, sliced
  • small handful mixed greens

Instructions

  1. Heat a medium grill pan (or regular sautee pan) over medium-low. Spray with nonstick spray.
  2. While your grill pan heats, spread dijon mustard on one slice of bread. Spread your thousand island on the other. Top the dijon side with turkey pastrami, followed by tomato. Top the thousand island side with cheese.
  3. Cook sandwich open faced until bread cheese begins to melt and bread is golden brown on the bottom. Add mixed greens on top of tomato and place your other slice of bread on top, cheese side down. Grill for an additional 1-2 minutes on each side. Serve immediately.
https://arismenu.com/turkey-pastrami-melt/

10 Minute Taco Salad

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10 Minute Taco Salad via arismenu.comYou know that go-to outfit that you can always count on when you don’t know what to wear? The one that always looks cute, is super comfortable, and always makes you feel like a million bucks? This salad is like that. Except, I wouldn’t wear it. That would be such a waste of so much deliciousness.

10 Minute Taco Salad via arismenu.com

It doesn’t require much explanation. What I can tell you is I have made this more often than any other meal. Ever. I never thought to photograph and post it because it seems so simple and straight forward, but it’s easy to forget that it is those easy and straight forward recipes that I didn’t have back in the day, and those exact recipes that helped me finally be able to lose weight and kick my Taco Bell habit for good.

10 Minute Taco Salad via arismenu.com

You can add/subtract whatever you want really. You can use a store bought taco seasoning or make your own, and you can include whichever fresh veggies make your heart happy. I always use romain hearts as the base for crunch, and add cucumber and tomatoes. A lot of times I add chopped carrots, and tons of extra cilantro. Some avocado pieces never hurt, either. Really, there’s no wrong way to make this salad.

10 Minute Taco Salad via arismenu.com

Okay, there is ONE wrong way–inside a greasy, deep-fried taco shell. I mean, what is even the point of that thing??? Oh, and also, don’t omit the cinnamon. I know it sounds crazy, but it will take the flavor of your taco salad to the next level. It will become your taco salad secret weapon. Like a ninja. Okay, I’m done.

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10 Minute Taco Salad

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes

Yield: 6 servings

10 Minute Taco Salad

Ridiculously easy, healthy and delicious taco salad. My go-to meal that I continue to make over and over again.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 sweet onion, chopped
  • 1 red bell pepper, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
  • 1/2 tbsp olive oil
  • 20 oz ground turkey breast (or 93% lean ground turkey, or 96% lean ground beef)
  • 3 tbsp taco seasoning (preferably homemade, or at least reduced sodium variety)
  • pinch cinnamon
  • 1/2-3/4 cup water
  • 16 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 2 romain hearts, chopped
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 large or 2 persian cucumbers, sliced
    • Optional Toppings:
  • Reduced fat cheddar cheese
  • Nonfat plain Greek yogurt
  • Fresh cilantro
  • Sliced avocado
  • Salsa

Instructions

  1. Heat onion, garlic and bell pepper in olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat until fragrant, about 3 minutes. Add ground turkey and cook until turkey is fully browned. Add taco seasoning and cinnamon. Slowly add water until the meat has reached your desired level of liquid (some will cook out, so add a little more than you'd think). Increase heat to bring liquid to a light boil, then reduce to simmer.
  2. Meanwhile, heat beans in a small sauce pan over medium heat until fully warmed.
  3. Place chopped romain in large serving bowls. Layer with cooked meat, beans and fresh veggies. Add any desired toppings.
https://arismenu.com/10-minute-taco-salad/

 

Turkey Club with Creamy Rosemary Spread

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Almost every summer of my life, I’ve spent at theatre camp. You never know what type of food you’re going to get at summer camp, and some years have been better than others, but I’ll never forget the summer we ate sandwiches for lunch for about 2 weeks straight. I think we might have even had sandwiches for dinner some nights too? I do remember thinking that I never wanted to eat an other sandwich again.

It’s funny because now I am ALL ABOUT sandwiches. If you ask me where I want to go to lunch, I will always reply with Dilly’s Deli, Great Harvest Bread Co, or Sacks. I could literally eat sandwiches for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

It can’t be just any sandwich. It has to be special. If you throw me deli meat and a slice of cheese with a packet of mayo, I will not be a fan. I like my sandwiches overflowing with super fresh and flavorful ingredients. Lots of veggies are a must, and so are unique and bold flavors!

And of course the right bread. I rarely buy anything that isn’t 1 million grain, but for the right rye bread, I’ll occasionally make the exception. However, this sandwich would also be fantastic with a seedy multi grain.

With the creamy rosemary spread, smooth avocado, crunchy bacon, soft bread and crisp fresh veggies, this sandwich has the perfect combination of textures, and doesn’t give even a little bit of that sandwich mush that comes from too few ingredients. You know, when it’s just bread and cheese and you think it would be a good idea to throw greasy potato chips on your sandwich because for the love of all things holy, it feels like you might possibly be eating baby food? Just me? Not that chips on a sandwich aren’t delicious….

I just prefer bacon. Story of my life.

I ate this monster sandwich for dinner, and I didn’t need a single thing on the side. It completely filled me up, and fulfilled all of my flavor/texture cravings in one perfect, easy dish. It’s the perfect meal for those nights when all you want to do is run through the Chipotle because you’re hungry enough to eat your arm, and you’d rather lick dirt off the floor than stand in the kitchen and cook. Please tell me that sometimes you feel that way too.

 

Turkey Club with Creamy Rosemary Spread

yield 1 sandwich

For the sandwich:

  • 2 slices fresh rye bread, lightly toasted (or gluten-free bread)
  • 1.5 oz sliced turkey
  • 1 slice reduced fat muenster cheese
  • 2 slices cooked center cut bacon
  • 1 roma tomato, sliced
  • 1/4 avocado, sliced
  • small handful fresh greens (or sprouts, or both!)
  • 1-2 tsp stone ground spicy mustard

For the creamy rosemary spread:

  • 2 tbs nonfat plain Greek yogurt
  • 1/2 sprig rosemary, stem removed and very finely chopped

Directions:

  1. In a small bowl, combine Greek yogurt and rosemary.
  2. Top 1 slice of toasted rye with creamy rosemary spread, and the other slice with spicy mustard. Layer remaining ingredients as desired, and enjoy!

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